Lab-grade VO2 Max testing in Urmston, on-site at The M41 Gym on Higher Road. Measure your true aerobic ceiling, your personalised heart-rate zones and fat-versus-carbohydrate fuel use on a treadmill, so every training run around Urmston and the Trafford area has a purpose. Full medical report within 48 hours.
From £150 per test
Lab-grade metabolic cart · Treadmill-based protocol · Full medical report within 48 hours
Quick explainers covering how the test works, what it measures and how to get a clean result.
The gold-standard measure of aerobic fitness: the maximum oxygen your body can use under load. Read the full VO2 Max guide →
What to eat, what to wear and how to train in the days before, so your result reflects your true ceiling. Read the prep guide →
Getting a lab-based VO2 Max test in Urmston used to mean booking into a university sports science lab or travelling into Manchester city centre. TELOMYX brings metabolic cart testing directly to The M41 Gym on Higher Road, the only way to get a fully measured aerobic capacity result in Urmston without leaving it. Urmston station is five minutes away, and street parking is available nearby.
We measure the oxygen and carbon dioxide in every breath with a clinical metabolic analyser, the same method used in sports-science labs. Not a wrist-based estimate from a watch. Our Urmston unit is at The M41 Gym, Higher Road (M41 9AP), a five-minute walk from Urmston station and with no university lab waiting list.
Within 48 hours of your test, with your VO2 Max, ventilatory thresholds and training heart-rate zones. Not a single number you can't act on.
Your report converts the raw data into the exact heart-rate zones to train in, so every session has a purpose instead of guesswork.
Clinically led from day one. No supplements, no transformations, no upsells. Just the data and what it means.
Recent reviews from clients who had a VO2 Max test at our Urmston venue. Verified via Google Business Profile.
★★★★★
"Did the VO2 Max test eight weeks out from the Manchester Half. The race finishes at Old Trafford which is basically my local, where I run that route regularly and still couldn't get my pacing right. The measured zones fixed everything. Knocked nine minutes off and felt strong at the finish."
★★★★★
"I cycle routes around the Trafford area most weekends and wanted threshold data I could trust. My Garmin had been giving me a number for years that never quite felt right. The test confirmed my threshold was about 12 watts higher than estimated. Training has been completely different since."
★★★★★
"Booked as a health check in my late forties, wanting an honest baseline rather than just going on how I felt. The team explained everything clearly, the report was detailed and the training zone guidance has made my Kingsway Park parkrun training far more structured."
Six things every Urmston VO2 Max client gets, as standard.
The maximum volume of oxygen your body can use per kilo per minute: the single best lab measure of aerobic fitness and a strong predictor of long-term health. Measured by lab-grade metabolic cart at The M41 Gym, Urmston (M41 9AP).
Your true training zones based on measured ventilatory thresholds, not the generic age-based formula your watch uses.
How your body switches between burning fat and carbohydrate as intensity rises, useful for endurance fuelling and body-composition goals.
Emailed within 48 hours with your full data set and reference ranges. Share it with your coach, club or GP.
Alongside your report, a member of the TELOMYX team will give you specific recommendations based on your own biology and results, so you know exactly how to train, not just what your number is.
The test itself is around 20 minutes of progressive effort to exhaustion. From walking into The M41 Gym to walking back out, plan for about an hour. More on VO2 Max →
Our metabolic testing setup is mobile across Greater Manchester. Below is where you can currently book an Urmston VO2 Max slot. To see all tests and testing locations currently available in Urmston click here.
Tests available: DEXA scan · VO2 Max test · RMR test
These are just a handful of the most common reasons people in Urmston book a VO2 Max test with us. For the full list, hit Goals in the top navigation bar to see every use case TELOMYX testing supports.
For all other goals (longevity, women's health, weight loss, sport-specific preparation and more), see Goals in the top navigation.
Book online in 60 seconds. Pick a slot at The M41 Gym, Urmston (47a Higher Road, M41 9AP). No referral is needed for a VO2 Max test, so you can book directly.
Read your pre-test guidelines. You'll receive a confirmation email with the full pre-test guidelines for a VO2 Max test. These cover what to eat, what to wear and how to adjust your training in the days before so your result reflects your true ceiling. Please read them in full before your appointment.
Arrive and warm up. A member of the TELOMYX team meets you at The M41 Gym and fits your mask and heart-rate monitor. After a short warm-up, the treadmill protocol begins and the intensity steps up gradually while we measure every breath.
The test itself. Around 20 minutes of progressive effort, building to your maximum. The full appointment runs to about 60 minutes including set-up, warm-up, the test and your results walkthrough.
Results walkthrough and targeted advice. A member of the TELOMYX team walks you through your VO2 Max, your ventilatory thresholds and your training zones, and gives you specific recommendations based on your biology and goals, with advice tailored to you rather than a generic printout explanation.
Full medical PDF report within 48 hours. Comprehensive multi-page report emailed to you, ready to share with your coach, club, GP or training partner. Includes reference ranges so you can benchmark properly.
VO2 Max gives you your aerobic ceiling and training zones. Pair it with DEXA and RMR for the full body-composition and metabolic picture.
£210
Full body composition plus metabolic rate in one session. Our most popular bundle.
From £120
Clinical-grade body composition, visceral fat and bone density in one 7-minute scan. The medical gold standard.
From £110
Measure exactly how many calories your body burns at rest, the foundation of any nutrition plan.
No. Unlike DEXA, a VO2 Max test involves no radiation and needs no medical referral, so you can book directly online. If you have a known heart condition or your doctor has advised caution with maximal exercise, let us know in advance and we'll confirm suitability before your appointment.
A lab test directly measures the oxygen and carbon dioxide in your breath as you exercise, which is the gold-standard method. Watches and fitness trackers estimate VO2 Max from heart rate and pace using an algorithm, and can be off by 10–15% or more. If you want a number you can actually base your training zones on, a measured lab test is the only reliable option.
The test itself is around 20 minutes of progressive effort. Including set-up, warm-up, the test and your results walkthrough, plan for about 60 minutes at The M41 Gym, Urmston (M41 9AP). Street parking is available on Higher Road. Urmston station is five minutes' walk. Your full medical PDF report follows by email within 48 hours.
A VO2 Max test is a maximal effort, so the final couple of minutes are genuinely hard. The protocol starts easy and the intensity steps up gradually, and a member of the TELOMYX team is with you the whole time. You stay in full control and can stop at any point. Most people are surprised that the build-up makes the hardest part feel manageable.
VO2 Max is measured in millilitres of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute (ml/kg/min) and depends heavily on age and sex. A typical untrained adult might sit in the low-to-mid 30s, a regular recreational runner in the 40s, and a competitive endurance athlete in the 50s or 60s. Your report includes age- and sex-matched reference ranges so you can see exactly where you sit.
A standalone VO2 Max test is £150. Multi-test bundles combining VO2 Max with DEXA and RMR offer the biggest savings; see our bundles page.
Most clients re-test every 6–12 months, or before and after a major training block. Runners preparing for the Manchester Half Marathon often test at the start of a block to set zones and again after to confirm the gains. Cyclists tackling routes around Trafford and Flixton typically re-test at the start of each main season.
As you exercise harder, your body passes through two key tipping points: the first ventilatory threshold (where you shift from mostly easy aerobic effort) and the second (where lactate accumulates faster than you can clear it). These thresholds define your real training zones. Training relative to your measured thresholds, rather than a generic age-based heart-rate formula, is what makes each session count.
Wear normal gym kit and trainers you'd run in. Avoid a heavy meal in the two to three hours before, avoid caffeine and alcohol on the day, and don't do a hard training session immediately beforehand. Your confirmation email includes the full pre-test guidelines, and following them gives you the cleanest, most accurate result.
Our standard Urmston protocol at The M41 Gym is treadmill-based, which suits runners and general fitness clients best. If you're a cyclist and would prefer a cycle-specific protocol, get in touch before booking and we'll let you know what we can arrange at your venue.
No. While serious runners and cyclists use it to fine-tune training, VO2 Max is also one of the strongest single predictors of long-term health and longevity. Many Urmston clients book it simply to get an honest baseline of their cardiovascular fitness in their 40s, 50s and beyond, particularly relevant given the North West's above-average premature cardiovascular disease rate.
A VO2 Max test measures your aerobic capacity and metabolic thresholds. It does not measure your body composition (that's DEXA), your resting calorie burn (that's RMR), your muscular strength, or your blood markers. It answers one question precisely: how much oxygen your body can use under load. Many clients pair it with DEXA and RMR for the full picture.
From £150. Full medical report within 48 hours. Lab-grade metabolic testing, no referral needed.
